Beer-Butt Chicken Recipe for the Big Green EggBy JHCadmin, November 15, 2010 We received three invitations to join various extended family members for Thanksgiving dinner. Three! How to choose?I asked what the main dish would be, of course. When my brother told me, “I’m smoking a turkey and barbecuing a roast (or was it smoking a roast and barbequing a turkey?), I announced, “We’ll be there.”Big Green Egg aficionados from coast to coast are firing up their ceramic cookers for some serious holiday entertaining, and my family is no exception. I thought I’d share a recipe for Rick Browne’s famous “Beer-Butt Chicken” from the Big Green Egg Cookbook, courtesy of our friends at Big Green Egg.I know. The name "beer-butt" sounds kind of gross. But it’s really delicious! Really. Trust me on this. I’m betting you can easily adapt this recipe for your Thanksgiving turkey, too (although you’ll need more beer and a bigger “butt”).A Bit of BackgroundPeople magazine dubbed Rick Browne “The Godfather of Beer-Butt Chicken,” but he humbly admits that he borrowed the technique from a barbecue contest competitor. However, Rick was the first in the country to publish the recipe and to prepare it on national television. When you try this fascinating, fun, and delicious way to cook a chicken, you’ll want to serve it again and again.Equipment: Porcelain coated grid1 (12-ounce) beer can or “Sittin’ Chicken” Ceramic Roaster 9 by 13-inch Drip PanSpray bottleBig Green Egg cooker (if you don’t have one yet, we stock an amazing supply at all five Rich’s showrooms in Lynnwood, Bellevue, Southcenter, Tacoma, and Silverdale).Set the EGG for direct cooking with the porcelain coated grid.Preheat the EGG to 375ºF.Ingredients:Rub1 teaspoon brown sugar1 teaspoon garlic powder1 teaspoon onion powder1 teaspoon dried summer savory1⁄4 teaspoon cayenne pepper1 teaspoon chili powder1 teaspoon sweet paprika 1 teaspoon dry mustard1 tablespoon sea salt or kosher salt1 (4 to 5-pound) chicken1 (12-ounce) can beer1 cup apple cider2 tablespoons olive oil2 tablespoons balsamic vinegarTo make the rub:Combine the brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, summer savory, cayenne pepper, chili powder, paprika, mustard, and salt in a small bowl. Stir until incorporated.Apply the rub all over the chicken, even inside the cavity. Work the mixture gently into the skin and under the skin wherever possible. Cover the chicken and set aside at room temperature for 30 minutes.Pour half of the beer into the spray bottle. Add the apple cider, olive oil, and vinegar and set aside. If using the Ceramic Roaster, pour the remaining beer into the cavity of the Roaster and slide the chicken onto the Roaster, through the tail end. If using the beer can, slide the chicken down over the can.Place the chicken, still on the Roaster, on the grid and close the lid of the EGG.Cook, using the spray bottle to baste the chicken once or twice, for 20 minutes, or until the chicken is just beginning to brown all over.Carefully lift the chicken (still on the Roaster) into the Drip Pan and close the lid of the EGG. Cook, spraying the chicken with the basting spray several times, for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until the internal temperature of the thigh reaches 170ºF and the chicken is a mahogany brown color.Using barbecue mitts, remove the chicken and present it on the Roaster to your guests. After they have reacted appropriately, remove the chicken from the Roaster.Be careful: The can and the liquid inside are very hot.Spray the chicken once more with the basting spray, cover with foil, and let rest for 10 minutes. Carve and serve. Serves 4About the Big Green Egg Cookbook (Andrews McMeel Publishing):The 320-page, hardcover Big Green Egg Cookbook contains extensive color photography and more than 160 delicious recipes that range from modern twists on tried-and-true barbecue favorites to gourmet meals with sophisticated flavors. Of course, you can buy the Big Green Egg Cookbook at Rich's.More Great Info about the Big Green EggA Cookbook to Get EGGcited aboutMolten Chocolate Cake Recipe for the Big Green EggRecipes for the Big Green Egg All About the Big Green Egg Big Green EGGcessories (we carry a full line of EGGcessories & lump charcoal at Rich's)Lump Charcoal vs. Briquettes: Which is Better?Your Barbeque Questions AnsweredSubscribe to Rich’s blogSubscribe to our blog via your feed reader or receive our latest posts in your e-mail Inbox. Simply click “Subscribe to this blog’s feed” or fill out the form located in the right-hand sidebar of our blog. ‘Like’ Rich’s on FacebookWe also provide daily tips and Internet-only specials on our Facebook page. 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